was to be opened for the despatch of business under the regency
by the commission thus appointed.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT BY THE REGENT

Parliament was not opened till the 12th of February, on which day the
prince regent, having been previously installed at Carlton-house,
opened it by commission. The speech delivered upon this occasion by the
commissioners in the regent's name dwelt upon the success of our armies
in the Indian seas, and the repulse of the French and Neapolitans in
their attack on Sicily; upon the failures of the French in Portugal
and at Cadiz; and it expressed a hope that parliament would enable the
regent to continue the most effectual assistance to the brave nations
of the Peninsula. The whole speech breathed a warlike spirit; and though
some deprecated war in the debate which followed on the addresses, they
were carried in both houses without a division.

DEBATE ON THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF THE DUKE OF YORK TO THE WAR-OFFICE.

Soon after the installation of the prince regent it was reported that he
intended to restore the Duke of York to the office of commander-in-chief
of the forces. During the investigation the duke had been warmly
defended by the Perceval administration, so that the report was not
likely to be ill-founded. On the 25th of May, indeed, the duke's
re-appointment was gazetted; and, although the nation seems generally
to have acquiesced in the measure, it did not pass without some
animadversion in parliament. Lord Milton moved in the commons, that it
had been highly improper and indecorous in the advisers of the regent
to recommend the re-appointment; but he found few supporters, the
motion being lost by a majority of two hundred and ninety-six against
forty-seven. The duke signalized his return to office by re-establishing
regimental schools on Bell's system.

THE SUPPLIES.

Mr. Perceval brought forward his budget on the 20th of May. The supplies
demanded and voted for the year amounted to L58,021,869; out of which
sum L20,276,144 were appropriated to the navy; L23,269,940 to the army;
L5,012,378 to the ordnance; L2,100,000 to subsidies, etc., for Portugal;
and L400,000 as a subsidy to Sicily.

THE BULLION COMMITTEE, ETC.

At this period, from our differences with America, which were not yet
settled, as well as from Napoleon's continental system, a considerable
commercial depression was felt, together with a derangement in the
money-market, arising in a gr